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Robert Zukerman and Doug Harris star in 'An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah' by John Bavoso. The production is one of 10 10-minute play available for streaming through Barrington Stage Company this weekend.

Berkshires Weekend Outlook for March 31-April 3

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Looking for something to do this weekend? iBerkshires offers some ideas and activities for what's looking to be a cool and rainy weekend. Luckily, most of the activities are inside — and even at home. 
 
10x10 New Play Festival
Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield
 
See Barrington Stage Company's 10x10 New Play Festival this weekend from the comfort of your own home. The festival is streaming on-demand beginning at midnight on Thursday, March 31, through Sunday at 11:59 p.m. 
 
For the price of one ticket at $35 you can watch 10 10-minute plays including two senior citizens who fall in love, the troubles in saying yes to the dress, an erroneous Amazon delivery, and the fallout between Abraham and Isaac over that almost sacrifice. 
 
The shorts are directed by BSC's Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Matthew Penn. 
 
Lonestar with Special Guest Whiskey City
Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield 
 
If you're looking for foot-stomping music, Lonestar appears with popular local band Whiskey City at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. 
 
Band members Dean Sams, Michael Britt, Keech Rainwater, and Drew Womack will be performing all 10 of their chart-topping country hits with a new fresh perspective while still keeping the soul of the music that the fans love. 
 
The Lonestar website quoted Britt as saying, "It was a high wire act trying to figure out how to change it a little bit and not throw people off too much. I've seen bands that when they do the big hits that I know, and they change it up too much, I feel disappointed. I think people want to sing along — the vocal melody is what people really are latching onto the majority of time."
 
Opening for Lonestar is Whiskey City, consisting of Berkshire County musicians Tim Sears, Dale Zavatter, Jason Webster, Beth Maturevich and Frank Algerio. They have 20 years touring and performing experience covering classic and country rock, and recently released their first CD with a dozen original songs. 
 
Tickets for the show is $55 and up and can be purchased here.
 
International Slow Art Day 
Mass MoCA, North Adams
 
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is holding an International Slow Art Day from noon to 5 on Saturday, during which where visitors will be encouraged to "mindfully experience" the exhibits through a variety of family friendly activities. 
 
The museum says the average person spends 10 seconds in front of a piece of art: "Take a beat, cool your jets, and enjoy slow-looking tours, music and meditation in the galleries, and activities for all ages."
 
All events are first come, first serve and visitors can pick up the Slow Looking Itinerary in Kidspace
 
Tours will start at noon in the lobby with a maximum of 15 visitors per group. Visitors will walk through the galleries and contemplate on a single work of art. A guided meditation with Laura Thompson, the director of education and curator of Kidspace, is at 1 p.m. and Linda Sormin will introduce her installation on the idea of slowness at 2 p.m., accompanied by string quartet the Overlook. 
 
Visitors should meet in the lobby at 3:30 to attend a Slow Art Tour on haikus and meditation with poet Colin Harrington. 
 
All Slow Art activities will be free with museum admissions. For more information visit here.
 
 
First Sunday Free: Photography
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
 
The Clark open its doors on Sunday for a day full of free photography-focused activities. 
 
Visitors will get a chance to experience the world renowned galleries and many activities. A pop-up installation on early photography will be accessible in the Manton Research Center Study Center for Works on Paper from 11 a.m. until until 1 p.m. 
 
Artmaking will be held from 1 until 4 in the Clark Center's lower lobby. End the day with a guided hike on the grounds to take pictures and learn best practices for photographing nature from 2:30 until 4 p.m.
 
It is recommended participants register here for their free tickets prior to the event; there will be a limited amount left for walk-ins. Interested parties can register here.
 
Also on exhibit are "As They Saw It: Artists Witnessing War" through the end of May.
 
Wining & Dining
Bountifare, Adams
 
The Adams Lions are hosting a wine and beer tasting with food pairings at the Bountifare in Adams from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $25 in advance from Adams Lions Club members or at Smith Brothers-McAndrews Insurance agency and $30 at the door if still available. Proceeds will support Lions initiatives, including scholarships, community events, lunch for senior citizens, and assistance to residents who need help with vision and hearing loss-related needs.
 
Winter Farmers Market
85 Main St., North Adams
 
The North Adams Farmers Market returns Saturday to 85 Main St. from 9 to 1. The monthly indoor winter market offers baked goods, local maple syrup, cheeses and more.
 
Maple Syrup Season
Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock
 
The Calf-A is open at Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock on Route 43 and just minutes from Jiminy Peak Ski Resort. See sap turned into maple syrup then try it on pancakes and waffles in the Calf-A (with a piece of maple ice cream pie for desert). 
 
A Walk in the Woods
Wendling Farm, Oblong Road, Williamstown
 
Forester Averill Cook leads a tour of the forest and discusses the history of wood use for energy, paper and building materiels beginning at noon. 
 
Registration limited to 20 people; admission is free for members of Williamstown Rural Lands and $3 for non-members. Register here

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Berkshire Concrete Special Permit Continued; Other Updates

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — Frustrations continue to fester with the Planning Board's decision last week to continue the public hearing for Berkshire Concrete's special permit for a third time. 
 
Confusion stemming from a labyrinthine history, questions surrounding the board's legal authority, and illegible documents described as "garbage" by board member Don Davis has delayed the town's yearlong odyssey in mitigating sand from leaving Berkshire Concrete's property. 
 
During the prior two meetings, the board asked Petricca Industries, the parent company of Berkshire Concrete, to provide updated, accurate, and clear plans. However, the documents provided did not answer the questions the board presented during previous meetings. 
 
Board members criticized the documentation provided for the absence of a clear overlay indicating "no-extraction" areas, a lack of information about the proposed work and schedule, unclear depictions of previously worked and reclaimed areas, and the failure to include a definitive reclamation schedule.
 
Attendees also noted the absence of a sufficient dust mitigation plan, which the town's consultant Berkshire Environmental Consultants, determined was insufficient
 
Berkshire Concrete's attorney, Dennis Egan Jr. of Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook LLP, asserted that the 1992 permit, which applies to the entirety of its land, is the foundation to all special permit renewals. 
 
He contends that the yearly renewal demonstrates to the board where Berkshire Concrete intends to mine during that timeframe and the reclamation requirements and dust mitigation plan are unchanged from previous modifications that had been modified in 1994, 2000, and 2013. 
 
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